Camera mount for sports board

ABSTRACT

A camera system is configured to detachably couple to a camera mount, which in turn can be attached to an apparatus such as a sports board. The camera mount includes a top mount portion and a bottom screw portion. The top mount portion includes a buckle component that can detachably couple to a camera system, and includes blade components having cutting edges that can cut through a sports board. The blade components surround a screw hole component, and when the blade components have pierced a surface of the sports board and cut through the board, an opening to the screw hole component is accessible from the underside of the board surface. The bottom screw portion includes a screw thread that can be inserted and screwed into the screw hole component, thus securing the camera mount to the sports board.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/495,673, filed Sep. 24, 2014, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,122,133,which application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/149,502, filed Jan. 7, 2014, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,870,475,all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

This disclosure relates to a camera system, and more specifically, to acamera mount meant to secure a camera system to a sports board.

Description of the Related Art

Digital cameras are increasingly used in outdoors and sportsenvironments. In order to allow for the safe use of cameras in suchenvironments, the cameras need to be secured to camera mounts, which inturn can be secured to, for example, sports equipment, vehicles, or auser. One such means for securing a camera to a camera mount is a camerahousing that securely encloses or partially encloses a camera, andcouples to a camera mount. A user experience with a camera mount can bediminished by difficult or inefficient mechanisms for securing andreleasing the camera mount to an apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosed embodiments have other advantages and features which willbe more readily apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention and the appended claims, when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1a illustrates a perspective view of a camera system, according toone embodiment.

FIG. 1b illustrates another alternative perspective view of a camerasystem, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 1c illustrates a perspective view of a rear of the camera system,according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2a illustrates a perspective view of a camera for use with thecamera system, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2b illustrates a perspective view of a rear of a camera for usewith the camera system, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of a mounting system meant to secure acamera housing to a sports board, according to one embodiment.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate three distinct views of a top mount portion of amounting system for a camera system, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a bottom screw portion of amounting system for a camera system, according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The figures and the following description relate to preferredembodiments by way of illustration only. It should be noted that fromthe following discussion, alternative embodiments of the structures andmethods disclosed herein will be readily recognized as viablealternatives that may be employed without departing from the principlesof what is claimed.

Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments, examples ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying figures. It is noted thatwherever practicable similar or like reference numbers may be used inthe figures and may indicate similar or like functionality. The figuresdepict embodiments of the disclosed system (or method) for purposes ofillustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize fromthe following description that alternative embodiments of the structuresand methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing fromthe principles described herein.

Example Camera System Configuration

A camera system includes a camera and a camera housing structured to atleast partially enclose the camera. The camera comprises a camera bodyhaving a camera lens structured on a front surface of the camera body,various indicators on the front of the surface of the camera body (suchas LEDs, displays, and the like), various input mechanisms (such asbuttons, switches, and touch-screen mechanisms), and electronics (e.g.,imaging electronics, power electronics, etc.) internal to the camerabody for capturing images via the camera lens and/or performing otherfunctions. The camera housing includes a lens window structured on thefront surface of the camera housing and configured to substantiallyalign with the camera lens, and one or more indicator windows structuredon the front surface of the camera housing and configured tosubstantially align with the camera indicators.

FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate various views of a camera system according toone example embodiment. The camera system includes, among othercomponents, a camera housing 100. In one embodiment, a first housingportion 102 includes a front face with four sides (i.e., a top side,bottom side, left side, and right side) structured to form a cavity thatreceives a camera (e.g. a still camera or video camera). In otherembodiments, the camera housing 100 may not include one or more sides orfaces. For instance, the camera housing 100 may not include a front orback face, allowing the front face and rear face of the camera to beexposed when partially enclosed by the top side, bottom side, left side,and right side of the camera housing 100.

In one embodiment, the camera housing 100 has a small form factor (e.g.,a height of approximately 3 to 6 centimeters, a width of approximately 3to 7 centimeters, and a depth of approximately 1 to 4 centimeters), andis lightweight (e.g., approximately 50 to 150 grams). The camera housing100 can be rigid (or substantially rigid) (e.g., plastic, metal,fiberglass, etc.) or pliable (or substantially pliable) (e.g., leather,vinyl, neoprene, etc.). In one embodiment, the camera housing 100 may beappropriately configured for use in various elements. For example, thecamera housing 100 may comprise a waterproof enclosure that protects acamera from water when used, for example, while surfing or scuba diving.

Portions of the camera housing 100 may include exposed areas to allow auser to manipulate buttons on the camera that are associated with thecamera functionality. Alternatively, such areas may be covered with apliable material to allow the user to manipulate the buttons through thecamera housing 100. For example, in one embodiment the top face of thecamera housing 100 includes an outer shutter button 112 structured sothat a shutter button 112 of the camera is substantially aligned withthe outer shutter button 112 when the camera is secured within thecamera housing 100. The shutter button 112 of the camera isoperationally coupled to the outer shutter button 112 so that pressingthe outer shutter button 112 allows the user to operate the camerashutter button.

In one embodiment, the front face of the camera housing 100 includes alens window 104 structured so that a lens of the camera is substantiallyaligned with the lens windows 104 when the camera is secured within thecamera housing 100. The lens window 104 can be adapted for use with aconventional lens, a wide angle lens, a flat lens, or any otherspecialized camera lens. In this embodiment, the lens window 104comprises a waterproof seal so as to maintain the waterproof aspect ofthe housing 100.

In one embodiment, the camera housing 100 includes one or more securingstructures 120 for securing the camera housing 100 to one of a varietyof mounting devices. For example, FIG. 1a illustrates the camera housingsecured to a clip-style mount 122. In this example, the camera housing100 includes a first plurality of protrusions (protrusions 124 as shownin FIG. 1b ), and the mount 122 includes a second plurality ofprotrusions. Each protrusion includes a hole (hole 126 as shown in FIG.1b ) at a similar location within the protrusion such that the first andsecond pluralities of protrusions can interlock in such a way that theprotrusion holes substantially align. Continuing with this example, aturnable handscrew is inserted through the aligned holes, coupling thecamera housing 100 to the mount 122 such that the camera housing canpivotally rotate relative to the mount when the turnable handscrew is ina first unlocked position, and such that the camera housing is fixed inposition relative to the mount when the turnable handscrew is in asecond locked position. In other embodiments, the camera housing 100 canbe secured to a different type of mounting structure, and can be securedto a mounting structure via a different type of coupling mechanism.

In one embodiment, the camera housing 100 includes an indicator window106 structured so that one or more camera indicators are substantiallyaligned with the indicator window 106 when the camera is secured withinthe camera housing 100. The indicator window 106 can be any shape orsize, and can be made of the same material as the remainder of thecamera housing 100, or can be made of any other material, for instance atransparent or translucent material and/or a non-reflective material.

The described housing 100 may also be adapted for a wider range ofdevices of varying shapes, sizes and dimensions besides cameras. Forexample, an expansion module may be attached to housing 100 to addexpanded features to electronic devices such as cell phones, musicplayers, personal digital assistants (“PDAs”), global positioning system(“GPS”) units, or other portable electronic devices.

FIG. 1c is a rear perspective view of camera housing 100 illustrating asecond housing portion 128, according to one example embodiment. Thesecond housing portion 128 detachably couples with the first housingportion 102 opposite the front face of the first housing portion. Thefirst housing portion 102 and second housing portion 128 arecollectively structured to enclose a camera within the cavity when thesecond housing portion 128 is secured to the first housing portion 102in a closed position.

In one embodiment, the second housing portion 128 comprises a door 130that allows the camera to be removed from the housing 100. The door 130pivots around a hinge 136 that allows the door 130 to be opened or shut.In one embodiment, a first fastening structure 138 located on the topface of the camera housing 100 detachably couples to a second fasteningstructure 140 on the door 130. The fastening structures 138, 140 securethe door 130 to the first portion 102 of the camera housing 100 in aclosed position when coupled, as illustrated in FIG. 2. In oneembodiment, the fastening structure 138 comprises a hook-shaped lateralbar and the fastening structure 140 comprises an L-shaped bar. Thefastening structure 138 can pivot upwards to allow the door 130 to closeand can then be pressed down around the fastening structure 140 to holdthe door 130 in the closed position. In different embodiments, fasteningstructures for securing the door 130 can include, for example, a buttonassembly, a buckle assembly, a clip assembly, a hook and loop assembly,a magnet assembly, a ball and catch assembly, and an adhesive assembly,or any other type of securing mechanism.

In one alternative embodiment, the hinge 136 is instead located on thetop face of the housing 100 and the fastening structures 138, 140 areinstead located on the bottom face of the housing 100. Alternatively,the hinge 136 and fastening structures 138, 140 may be located onopposite side faces of the camera housing 100.

In one embodiment, the housing 100 includes a watertight seal so thatthe housing 100 is waterproof when the door 130 is shut. For example, inone embodiment, the door 130 includes a sealing structure positioned oninterior edges of the door 130. The sealing structure provides awatertight seal between the first portion of the camera housing 102 andthe door 130 when the first securing structure 138 on the top face ofthe camera housing 100 is coupled to the second securing structure 140on the top edge of the door 130.

In one embodiment, an outer hinge structure 132 on the bottom edge ofthe second housing portion 128 detachably couples to an inner hingestructure 134 on the bottom edge of the first housing portion 102 toform the hinge 136. For example, in one embodiment, the outer hingestructure 132 comprises one or more hook-shaped protrusions structuredto securely fasten to a rod-shaped member of the inner hinge structure134. Other mechanisms for coupling the second housing portion 128 to thehousing 100 may also be used in various alternative embodiments. Inother embodiments, the second housing portion 128 may be permanentlyattached to the first housing portion 102.

FIG. 2a illustrates a camera 200 for use with the camera systemsdescribed herein, according to one example embodiment. The camera 200 isconfigured to capture images and video, and to store captured images andvideo for subsequent display or playback. The camera 200 is adapted tofit within a camera housing, such as the housing 100 discussed above orany other housing described herein. As illustrated, the camera 200includes a lens 202 configured to receive light incident upon the lensand to direct received light onto an image sensor internal to the lens.The lens 202 is enclosed by a lens ring 204.

The camera 200 can include various indicators, including the LED lights206 and the LED display 208 shown in FIG. 2a . When the camera 200 isenclosed within the housing 100, the LED display 208 is configured tosubstantially align with the indicator window 106, and the LED lights206 are configured to be visible through the housing 100. The camera 200can also include buttons 210 configured to allow a user of the camera tointeract with the camera, to turn the camera on, and to otherwiseconfigure the operating mode of the camera. The camera 200 can alsoinclude a microphone 212 configured to receive and record audio signalsin conjunction with recording video. The side of the camera 200 includesan I/O interface 214. Though the embodiment of FIG. 2a illustrates theI/O interface 214 enclosed by a protective door, the I/O interface caninclude any type or number of I/O ports or mechanisms, such as universalserial bus (USB) ports, HDMI ports, memory card slots, and the like.

FIG. 2b illustrates a perspective view of a rear of a camera 200 for usewith the camera system, according to one embodiment. The camera 200includes a door 216 that covers a removable battery and batteryinterface. The door 216 can be removed via the door release mechanism218. The camera also includes an expansion pack interface 220 configuredto receive a removable expansion pack, such as a display module, anextra battery module, a wireless module, and the like. Removableexpansion packs, when coupled to the camera 200, provide additionalfunctionality to the camera via the expansion pack interface 220.

Camera Mount for a Sports Board

A camera mounting system is used to secure a camera system to anapparatus. To fasten the camera system to the apparatus, a camera system(a camera housing 100 containing a camera) is detachably secured to amount, and the mount is detachably secured to the apparatus. FIG. 3illustrates a camera mount 300 meant to secure a camera housing 100 to asports board, according to one embodiment. In a separate embodiment, thecamera mount 300 can secure a different object (such as a leash) to thesports board instead of or in addition to the camera housing 100. Thesports board may be any type of board, including a wakeboard, boogieboard, body board, or soft surfboard. The sports board can be made of afoam material or any other soft or malleable material. Alternatively,the camera mount 300 may secure a camera housing 100 to any soft foamstructure or malleable material. The camera mount 300 can be made fromany material, such as plastic or metal.

The camera mount 300 includes, among other components, a top mountportion 312 and a bottom screw portion 314. The top mount portion 312includes a buckle component 302, a plurality of blade components 304,and a screw hole component 306. The buckle component 302 is configuredto detachably couple to a camera system, and the blade components 304are configured to forcibly cut through a sports board. The top mountportion 312 is structured such that when the blade components 304 havepierced a first surface of the sports board and subsequently cut throughthe board, the opening of the screw hole component 306 will beaccessible on the opposite surface (or underside) of the board. Thebottom screw portion 314 includes a screw head component 310 and a screwthread component 308 that is configured to be inserted into the screwhole component 306 of the top mount portion 312. The camera mount 300 issecured to the sports board when the top mount portion 312 is insertedinto a first side of the sports board body and the screw threadcomponent 308 of the bottom screw portion is inserted into an oppositeside of the sports board body and screwed into the screw hole component306 of the top mount portion, coupling the top mount portion to thebottom screw portion.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate three distinct views of the top mount portion 312of a mounting system for a camera system, according to one embodiment.FIG. 4A highlights the buckle component 302 of the top mount portion312, according to one embodiment. In an embodiment, a buckle componenton the camera housing 100 (such as the clip-style mount 122 of FIG. 1)may be detachably secured to the buckle component 302 of the top mountportion 312 to fasten the camera housing 100 to the top mount portion312. The camera housing 100 can include a female buckle component whilethe top mount portion 312 includes a male buckle component, and viceversa. The top mount portion 312 is configured so that the bucklecomponent 302 is secured on a first surface of a sports board when thecamera mount 300 is properly secured to the sports board.

FIGS. 4B and 4C highlight the blade components 304 of the top mountportion 312, structured on the underside of the surface of the bucklecomponent 302, according to one embodiment. FIG. 4C illustrates oneembodiment with four blade components. However, in other embodiments,there can be two, three, five, six, or any number of blade components304. The blade components 304 surround and protrude outward from theedge/circumference of the cylindrical screw hole component 306. In someembodiments, the blade components 304 are located equiangular to eachother around the edge of the screw hole component 306. This beneficiallyprevents the camera mount 300 from rotating when secured to the sportsboard. In an embodiment, each blade spans from a top edge of the topmount portion 312 (or from the underside of the surface of the bucklecomponent 302) to an apex point at a bottom edge of the top mountportion 312 (or at the opening of the screw hole component 306). Theedges of the blade components 304 meet at this apex point.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the four blade components 304are located at 90 degree angles to each other. Each blade componentcontains a relatively sharp cutting edge that is sufficiently sharp tocut through a sports board or any foam or malleable material. The bladecomponents may have straight edges or serrated edges. The structure ofthe edges allows for the blade components to slice or saw through, forexample, a malleable board. In one embodiment, a user places the topmount portion 312 on a sports board surface, blade-side down, and putspressure on the top mount portion 312, causing the blade components 304to pierce the surface of the sports board and cut through to theopposite surface (underside) of the sports board.

In an embodiment, at least one of the blade components 304 is locatedhigher along the lengthwise axis of the screw hole component 306 (closerto the opening of the screw hole component) than at least one other ofthe blade components 304, such that at least two of the blade components304 are offset from each other along the screw hole component'slengthwise axis. Thus, when pressure is placed on the top mount portion312 on a sports board, the at least one blade component 304 that islocated higher along the screw hole component's lengthwise axis willpierce the surface of the board before the at least one other of theblade components 304. This reduces the amount of pressure required topierce the board surface. In another embodiment, at least one of theblade components 304 has a greater length than the other bladecomponents 304. In still another embodiment, the blade components 304are all the same length and located at the same point along thelengthwise axis of the screw hole component 306.

FIGS. 4B and 4C highlight the screw hole component 306 of the top mountportion 312, structured on the underside of the buckle component 302,according to one embodiment. The screw hole component 306 is generallycylindrical and includes screw threading on the inside surface of thescrew hole. Accordingly, the screw hole component 306 is configured toreceive and couple to a threaded screw, such as the screw threadcomponent 308. When the blade components 304 have pierced a firstsurface of the sports board and subsequently cut through the board, theopening of the screw hole component 306 will be accessible on theopposite surface (or underside) of the first surface, and a screw threadcomponent 308 can be inserted into the screw hole component.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a bottom screw portion 314 ofthe mounting system for a camera system, according to one embodiment. Inan embodiment, the bottom screw portion 314 includes a screw threadcomponent 308 and a screw head component 310. The screw thread component308 is a threaded screw and is configured to be inserted and screwedinto the screw hole component 306 of the top mount portion 312. Thescrew head component 310 is on a surface of the bottom screw portion314, and the screw thread component 308 is located on an underside ofthis surface. In an embodiment, the screw head component 310 includes aslotted indentation for receiving a screwdriver.

In an example use scenario, a user places the top mount portion 312blade-side downward on a sports board such as a boogie board. Next, theuser places pressure on the top mount portion 312, causing the bladecomponents 304 to pierce one surface of the boogie board and cut throughto the opposite surface (underside) of the boogie board. The opening ofthe screw hole component 306 is accessible from the underside of theboogie board, and the user inserts the screw thread 308 of the bottomscrew portion 314 into the screw hole component 306, securing the topmount portion 312 to the bottom screw portion. The user then mounts acamera system including a camera and camera housing to the bucklecomponent 302 of the top mount portion 312 to secure the camera systemto the camera mount 300.

Additional Configuration Considerations

Throughout this specification, some embodiments have used the expression“coupled” along with its derivatives. The term “coupled” as used hereinis not necessarily limited to two or more elements being in directphysical or electrical contact. Rather, the term “coupled” may alsoencompass two or more elements are not in direct contact with eachother, but yet still co-operate or interact with each other, or arestructured to provide a thermal conduction path between the elements.

Likewise, as used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,”“includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof,are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process,method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is notnecessarily limited to only those elements but may include otherelements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,article, or apparatus.

In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elementsand components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely forconvenience and to give a general sense of the invention. Thisdescription should be read to include one or at least one and thesingular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meantotherwise.

Finally, as used herein any reference to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular element, feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment is includedin at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in oneembodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarilyall referring to the same embodiment.

Upon reading this disclosure, those of skill in the art will appreciatestill additional alternative structural and functional designs asdisclosed from the principles herein. Thus, while particular embodimentsand applications have been illustrated and described, it is to beunderstood that the disclosed embodiments are not limited to the preciseconstruction and components disclosed herein. Various modifications,changes and variations, which will be apparent to those skilled in theart, may be made in the arrangement, operation and details of the methodand apparatus disclosed herein without departing from the spirit andscope defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mounting system comprising: a top mount portionconfigured to detachably couple to an electronic device, the top mountportion comprising: a screw hole component comprising a cylinder with anouter surface configured to receive a screw, the cylinder protrudingperpendicularly outwards from a surface of the top mount portion furtherthan any other portion of the mounting system; and a plurality of bladeseach protruding perpendicularly outwards from and abutting both theouter surface of the cylinder and a surface of the top mount portionsuch that no gap exists between the outer surface of the cylinder andthe blade, each blade comprising a first face and a second face parallelto the first face, the plurality of blades configured to cut through asports equipment object, wherein a width of each blade along the surfaceof the top mount portion is greater than a diameter of the screw holecomponent.
 2. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the sportsequipment object is a sports board.
 3. The mounting system of claim 2,wherein the sports board is a soft surfboard.
 4. The mounting system ofclaim 2, wherein the sports board is a boogie board.
 5. The mountingsystem of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a camera.
 6. Themounting system of claim 1, wherein the screw is a threaded screwconfigured to be inserted into the screw hole component to securablycouple the threaded screw to the top mount portion.
 7. The mountingsystem of claim 6, the threaded screw comprising a screw head componentand a screw thread component, wherein the screw thread component islocated on a surface of the screw head component.
 8. The mounting systemof claim 7, wherein the screw head component comprises a slottedindentation configured to receive a screwdriver tip.
 9. The mountingsystem of claim 1, wherein at least one blade comprises a serrated edge.10. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein at least one blade comprisesa straight edge.
 11. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein theplurality of blades are equally spaced around the screw hole component.12. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein four blades surround thescrew hole component, each blade located at a ninety degree angle fromanother blade.
 13. The mounting system of claim 12, wherein two of theblades protrude from a different cross-section along a length of thescrew hole component than the other two blades.
 14. The mounting systemof claim 1, wherein at least one of the blades protrudes from adifferent cross-section along a length of the screw hole component thananother blade.
 15. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein each of theplurality of blades protrudes from a same cross-section along a lengthof the screw hole component.
 16. The mounting system of claim 1, whereinat least one of the blades has a greater length than at least one otherblade.
 17. A mounting system for coupling an electronic device to sportsequipment, comprising: a base comprising means for coupling to theelectronic device on a first side of the base; a cylinder protrudingperpendicularly outwards from a second side of the base further than anyother portion of the mounting system, the cylinder comprising an outersurface and a screw hole configured to receive a screw; and a pluralityof blades, each blade in contact with and protruding outwards from boththe outer surface of the cylinder and the second side of the base suchthat no gap exists between the outer surface of the cylinder and theblade, each blade comprising a first face and a second face parallel tothe first face, wherein a width of each blade along the second side ofthe base is greater than a diameter of the cylinder.
 18. The mountingsystem of claim 17, wherein the plurality of blades are equally spacedaround the cylinder.
 19. A mount for coupling an electronic device to asports board, the mount including a plurality of blades each protrudingperpendicularly outwards from both a surface of the mount and from anouter surface of a cylinder protruding from the surface of the mountsuch that no gap exists between the outer surface of the cylinder andthe blade, the cylinder protruding from the surface of the mount furtherthan any other portion of the mount, a width of each blade along thesurface of the mount being greater than a diameter of the cylinder, eachblade comprising a first face and a second face parallel to the firstface, the cylinder configured to receive a screw to couple the sportsboard between the mount and the screw, the plurality of bladesconfigured to cut into a surface of the sports board when the surface ofthe mount is facing the surface of the sports board and when pressure isapplied on the mount in the direction of the sports board, the mountfurther comprising means for coupling the electronic device to a secondsurface of the mount.
 20. The mount of claim 19, wherein the pluralityof blades are equally spaced around the cylinder.